Checkers, Verizon Wireless Continue "Pass it Forward" Campaign

The Charlotte Checkers and Verizon Wireless today announced the continuation of their “Pass it Forward” campaign. The program, which is designed to surprise with random acts of kindness throughout the Charlotte community, won the American Hockey League’s award for Unique Community Relations Initiative in its inaugural run last season.

Throughout the 2018-19 season, Checkers players, the CheckMates dance team, staff members and/or the team’s mascot, Chubby, will again appear unannounced at various locations throughout the community. At these appearances, unsuspecting patrons will receive gift cards, tickets and other prizes at random, with the goal being for the recipients to then “pass it forward” to someone else they encounter. Those touched by the program will be encouraged to then share their own acts of kindness on social media using the #Verizon and #LetsGoCheckers hashtags.

"Giving back to the communities where we live and work is very important to all of us at Verizon," said Russ Preite, Southeast Market president for Verizon. "We are proud to partner with the Checkers again through the 'Pass it Forward' campaign with the simple goal of spreading kindness throughout Charlotte."

This season the Pass It Forward program will be visiting five locations - Autobell, Academy, Chima, Sam's Mart and Maggianos.

In the program’s first two seasons, the Checkers and Verizon donated $30,000 in gift cards over the course of the events.